If Hamas agrees to hold elections, there will be reconciliation "tomorrow," Abbas said.

He said Hamas has "used the excuse" that the Americans and Israelis -- who consider the Islamist faction a "terrorist organization" -- would refuse to negotiate with the PLO if Hamas were included, and thus would pressure Abbas against reconciliation.

"We will not take the Americans and Israelis into consideration," Abbas said. "To (Hamas) I say try me, and then we can talk."

Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.

Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements since peace talks began.

The division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.

In the following year, clashes erupted between the two factions, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.

The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.